Means and method for removing deposited material from cracking apparatus



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,541

' L. c. HUFF MEANS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING DEPOSITED MATERIAL FROM CRACKING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 26. 1923 177K 22 far Lym n C. Huff iM wZ/W' deposited in connection with the destructive Patented ea. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1 "1,603,541 PATENT orrice.

LYMAN C. HUFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING DEPOSI'IED MArEnIALrnoM' CRACKING APIZARATUS.

Application filed January 26; 1923, Serial No. 614,953. Renewed December 2-7, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in a means and method for removing carbon distillation of hydrocarbon oil, and refers more particularly to a means positioned. in the body of the deposited carbon for disintegrating the carbonaceous substance subsequent to accumulation in the vaporizing or reaction chambers, and in the heating zone of an apparatus when the still type of a chamber is used.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a method for injecting steam, water or other liquids into the body of the carbon while in a heated state, whereby the solid carbonv body is broken up and may be more easily removed from the chamber in which it has been collected;'to provide a means to facilitate the removal of carbon which permits the conversion of the relatively heavier oils which contain large quantities .of carbon, and producea relatively large carbon body in a comparatively short period of time; to provide a means for facilitating the removal of this carbon I side fired furnace in whichis mounted a heating coil 2, 3 is an expansion or vapor izing chamber connected to the heating coil by means'of transfer line 4 in which is in terposed a valve 5. At 6 is shown diagrammatically a dephlegmator for refluxing the vapors from the expansion orvaporizing chamber, which pass over through the vapor line 7 The dephlegmator is connected by line 8 to a water condensing coil 9 which-in turn is connected to a receiver 10 by means of'a' pipe 11 controlled by a valve 12. The reflux return line 13 regulated by a valve 14 serves to recycle the reflux condensate to the charging line 15 where the refiuxliquid is combined with the raw oil introduced through the line 15 to the heating coil 2.

Referring now particularly to the parts of the apparatus which constitute the feature of the present invention, in the expansion chamber 3 are positioned the pipes 16. These pipes are supported in position by stay-rods or wires 17 fastened inside of the shell of the chamber .and adapted to hold upright tubes or pipes 16 in a desired posi tion.

. It will be noted that the pipes are bent or formed so that'their upper ends are distributed relatively uniformly throughout the body of the chamber. In the upper ends of the pipes 16 are inserted-conical plugs 18, which prevent the deposited carbon from collecting in the tubes and thereby preventing subsequent introduction of fluid. To

the lower ends of the tubes or pipes 16 are afiixed plugs 19 which close the lower ends of the pipes and prevent the oil or carbon from collecting inside of the tube. The bottom of the chamber 3 is closed by means of a plate 20 which is bolted or otherwise fastened to assure a'pressure and liquid tight closure. In a closed position as shown in Fig. 1, the lower extremities of the tubes rest and are supported on the lower closure upper residuum line, at which time it is necessary to shut down the apparatus for cleaning. I

The rate of carbon accumulation is of course, dependent upon the character of the oil used. Some oils contain a larger percentage of free carbon which is more readily deposited than with the conversion of other types of'oil. Some of the Texas and Mexican oils, and also fuel oils produced by treatment of the mid-continent oils are notoriously large carbon producers.

en the apparatus has been shut down for cleaning, the lower closure p1ate'- is removed and the upper manhole plate'23 is taken ofi when the apparatus has sufficiently been opened as'shown in Fig. 2, connection is made to the lower extremity of the tubes -16 with .the pipes 26 which communicate with a header 27. This connection may be made by taking oi? the plugs which close the lower end of the pipes or tubes 16 and screwing elongated nipples 28 which are connected to the pipes 26 by movable connections shown at 29. The header 27 is connected with a pump 30 by means of which steam, water or any other desired fluid may be injected under pressure into the carbon body.

As soon as the pressure is applied and the liquid injected, the plugs 18 will be blown from the ends of the pipes and the liquid will enter the heated carbon body. The heat of the carbon will immediately cause an expansion of the steam or water which is introduced, which will break up the carbon formation and permit it to be readily removed from the lower opening of the chamber. The removal of the carbon may also be assisted by an operator working through the top manhole. The plugs 18 will be removed With the carbon either through the top or bottom openings and can be replaced when the carbonhas been entirely eliminated, and the apparatus is being prepared for another run.

Care must be used in the quantities of steam and water introduced, so that excessive pressure will not be built'up. Steam intro need through the line 24 will also prevent the oil vapors from flashing when the chamber is open for cleaning.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of removing carbon from the collecting-chamber of an oil apparatus consisting in injecting an expansive fluid which is a non-supporter of combustion into the body'of the heated carbonaceous sub stance and permitting it to disrupt said substance and then removing the broken pieces therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for removing deposited material from an oil treating. apparatus, the combination with a chamber for accumulating the deposited material, of means positioned in said chamber for introducing an expansive fluid to predetermined portions of the body of the deposited material to disrupt said material, and manhole openings in the chamber for removing the broken up pieces of deposited material therefrom.

3. In an apparatus for removing the deposited material from an oil treating apparatus, the combination with a chamber for accumulating the deposited material, of means distributed throughout the chamber for introducing an expansive fluid uniformly through the body of the deposited material to disrupt said material, connections detachable with said means for injecting under pressure said fluid to said means.

a. In an apparatus for removing deposit ed carbonaceous material from an oil treating apparatus, the combination with a chamber "for accumulating deposited material, of injecting means positioned in the chamber for uniformly introducing an era pansive-fluid to predetermined portions of the body of the carbon material, to disrupt said material, means detachable with said injecting means for introducing said fluid under high pressure to said injecting means.

5. A method for removing carbon which has accumulated in a carbon collecting zone of an oil treating apparatus, consisting in injecting a fluid under pressure which will not promote combustion at the temperature of the carbonaceous material therein, into the body of the carbonaceous material to disrupt said carbonaceous material, and in then removing the broken particles therefrom.

LAN C. HUFF. 

